Kalla Group partners with local venture capitals to build Saoraja Hub Incubator

The lack of promising space and the potential of young
entrepreneurs in Eastern Indonesia, specifically Makassar, are the
main reasons behind the creation of Saoraja Hub. As an incubator,
it’ll be a platform for Eastern Indonesian entrepreneurs with
ideas of creative and digital business to share together.

In ensuring the idea goes well executed in term of business and
management, Saoraja Hub will provide seed funding for five selected
startups.

“The upcoming startups’ [verticals] may vary and will not be
limited digital platforms. Ideally, those with similar service or
business sector with Kalla Group,” Solihin Jusuf Kalla, President
Director of Kalla Group, said.

He continued that, in supporting the incubator programme,
Saoraja Hub will partner with corporate and local venture capitals.
Kalla avoided mentioning further detail about the local venture
capital who will partner with Saoraja Hub as the partnership is
still under discussion.

“Two local venture capitals, banks, and corporates, have
confirmed their readiness to partner with Saoraja Hub, to support
Eastern Indonesia’s startup ecosystem improvement,” he
added.

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Previously, Saoraja Hub was also involved with DISRUPTO, an
inclusive disruption movement initiated by WIR Group. Its objective
was to reach out to the government, startups, and global technology
and economic players. This event was attended by some of the
Indonesian Government institutions.

“Starting from a casual conversation about the low number of
Makassar entrepreneurs, Saoraja Hub was finally founded,” Kalla
said.

Kalla Group warehouse utilisation

In addition to Saoraja Hub, Kalla Group plans to rent its
existing warehouse to FMCG and e-commerce companies in order to
accelerate startup growth in Eastern Indonesia, Makassar in
particular. Logistics of Kalla Group currently has a large capacity
that is ideal to use and for rent.

“At first, we have no intention to use the warehouse for FMCG.
However, we received demand and started to use the warehouse to
store FMCG goods,” Kalla explained.

Kalla Group still has around 200,000 sqm land to be used for
warehouse construction. Regarding Kalla Group’s goal to
collaborate with e-commerce companies for the warehouse
utilisation, Kalla said it is still in discussion and has yet to
set an agreement with any e-commerce company.

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“Our next focus is indeed to enter the digital business. Step
by step, with the current resource and potential, Kalla Group is
starting to enter the digital business,” he said.

Regarding any plan to enter the fintech or financial sector,
Kalla said there is no plan for it yet due to the lack of
background in the sector.

“Since the very beginning, our focus has been more on
automotive, transportation and logistics, construction and
development, manufacturing, and energy. In fact, we have no plans
to enter the financial sector,” he concluded.